A wheeled work vehicle (1) comprises a forward chassis part (4) and a rearward chassis part (5) pivotally connected about a substantially vertically extending primary pivot axis (7) for steering thereof. A pair of forward ground engaging wheels (29) are carried on a forward suspension unit (32), and a pair of rearward ground engaging wheels (30) are carried on a rearward suspension unit (33). The forward suspension unit (32) is pivotally connected to the forward chassis part (4) by a pair of main forward transverse pivot shafts (63) pivotally coupled to the forward chassis part (4) by corresponding main forward pivot mountings (65). The main forward transverse pivot shafts (63) defines a main forward transverse pivot axis (59) about which the forward suspension unit (32) is pivotal relative to the forward chassis part (4). The forward suspension unit (32) comprises a pair of spaced apart trailing arms (35) which are joined by a torsion shaft (68) of tubular steel, which is rigidly connected to the trailing arms (35). The torsion shaft (68) defines a torsional axis (70), and permits limited upward and downward pivotal type torsional deflection of the trailing arms (35) relative to each other. The rearward suspension unit (33) is substantially similar to the forward suspension unit (32) and is coupled to the rearward chassis part (5) about a pair of main rearward transverse pivot shafts (87) in a similar manner as the forward suspension unit (32) is coupled to the forward chassis part (4).

A utility vehicle comprises a plurality of ground engaging members and a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members. The frame includes a front frame portion, a mid-frame portion, and a rear frame portion. The utility vehicle further comprises an attachment supported at the front frame portion. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes an operator area supported by the frame and including an operator seat and an adjacent passenger seat spaced apart from the operator seat. The operator seat and the passenger seat are in a side-by-side arrangement. The utility vehicle also comprises an auxiliary power assembly having an attachment shaft configured to be operably coupled to the attachment. The attachment shaft extends in a generally longitudinal direction of the utility vehicle and projects outwardly from the front frame portion.

The thickness of one of a pair of panels (an inner panel (20) and an outer panel (30)) of each trailing arm (12) is greater than the thickness of the other panel, and a rear wheel support unit (an axle unit (51)) configured to support each rear wheel is coupled to one of the pair of panels (the inner panel (20) and the outer panel (30)).

A trailer for towing by a power vehicle is provided and generally includes a frame and a tandem wheel assembly. The frame forms an undercarriage chassis which the tandem wheel assembly is positioned there under. The undercarriage chassis includes a rear wheel assembly, a front wheel assembly, and an extension assembly moving the front wheel assembly between trailing position and a self-propelled position. At least one of the wheel assemblies is powered by a selectively engageable drive assembly including a motor, transmission, driveshaft, selectively engageable clutch and hub, to drive the rotation of at least one of the wheels.

A removable spindle assembly improvement comprised of a spindle housing end unit having a threaded cavity. A corresponding threaded removable spindle is torqued into the threaded cavity. The spindle has a tapered section that includes O-rings for creating a seal along the corresponding section of the cavity to prevent corrosion which assists in the elimination of spindle seizure within the spindle housing end unit's cavity. The spindle housing end unit's housing includes at least two threaded apertures that cooperate with sealed set screws for securing the spindle in place during operation. The set screws are placed apart at an odd number of 15 degree increments. This assembly facilitates easy removal and replacement of a spindle on a spring axle.

A trailer for towing by a power vehicle is provided and generally includes a frame and a tandem wheel assembly. The frame forms an undercarriage chassis and the tandem wheel assembly positioned under the undercarriage chassis. The tandem wheel assembly includes a rear wheel assembly and a front wheel assembly. An extension assembly is provided and moves the front wheel assembly between trailing position and a self-propelled position where the rear wheel assembly and the front wheel assembly are positioned to equally support the undercarriage chassis.

A twist axle assembly (20) of a vehicle includes a pair of trailing arms (22) and a twist beam (24) having a base portion (46) extending along an axis (A) between first and second twist beam ends (42, 44). The twist beam (24) includes a pair of side walls (48) extending downwardly from the base portion (46) and each disposed in spaced relationship with the trailing arms (22). At least one mounting bracket (54) extends from a first mounting bracket end (56) disposed in abutting relationship with a respective trailing arm (22) to a second mounting bracket end (58) disposed in overlaying relationship the side walls (48) of the twist beam (24) for allowing the mounting bracket to axially slip or slide along the side walls (48) of the twist beam (24) and provide for lateral or axial adjustment of the twist axle assembly (20) during the manufacturing process.

A method and apparatus for adapting a vehicle rear suspension wherein the apparatus comprises a substantially circular plate having first and second surfaces with a central bore therethrough and with closed and open notches extending into a circumferential edge thereof, a pair of outer mounting bores extending through the plate proximate to the circumferential edge with the closed notch therebetween and a plurality of first and second inner mounting bores distributed around the central bore. The method comprises removing a multi-link rear suspension assembly from the vehicle and removing left and right wheel assemblies from the multi-link rear suspension assembly mounting an adaptor plate to each of the left and right wheel assemblies on an inside surface thereof with a first set of fasteners, mounting an axle beam of a torsion bar rear suspension assembly to each of the adaptor plates with a second set of fasteners and securing the torsion bar rear suspension assembly to the vehicle.

The invention relates to an axle unit comprising an axle tube and a link element, wherein the axle tube substantially extends along a tube axis, wherein the link element has a joining portion with a first welding portion and a second welding portion, wherein the link element is arranged with its joining portion adjacent to the axle tube and substantially transversely with respect to the tube axis, wherein, in the first welding portion and in the second welding portion, a welded joint can be produced between the link element and the axle tube.

The vehicle suspension component includes first and second trailing arms that are spaced from one another for attachment with vehicle wheels. The suspension component also includes at least one cross-member that is rigidly connected with the first trailing arm and is operably connected with the second trailing arm in a non-rigid manner. A rotation inhibitor operably connects the at least one cross-member with the second trailing arm and resiliently resists rotation of the at least one cross-member relative to the second trailing arm.